Overview

Take your listening experience to new heights.

As the heart of a high-performance system, the Elite SC-87 AV Receiver is a standout. Ready for the unmatched realism of Dolby Atmos® combined with the impressive power of Class D3 amplification, the SC-87 delivers serious sound, effortless connectivity, sophisticated room correction and advanced multi-zone features. Audiophiles, prepare to be transformed by an unforgettable surround-sound experience.

Elite Dolby Atmos® Receivers Change the Surround Landscape Forever.*

Talk about a new surround-sound experience! The new Elite SC-87 receiver for Dolby Atmos, along with our new Dolby Atmos-enabled speakers, is the best way to experience Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos is one of the most significant home entertainment introductions since the launch of surround sound. How does Dolby Atmos work? It adds height to the sonic landscape, creating a true 3D, multi-dimensional space that puts listeners inside the experience. Played through Atmos-enabled speakers like the new Elite Home Theater Speaker System or dedicated ceiling-mounted speakers, theatrical releases created in Dolby Atmos simply come alive. Dolby Atmos brings new life to traditional soundtracks, putting sounds into motion and delivering the full impact of the artist’s work like never before. Dolby Atmos upgradable Elite AV receivers continue the Pioneer tradition of bringing state-of-the-art home theater technology into your home before others even know it’s there.

HDMI for 4K.

The Elite SC-87 features HDMI®, which offers increased bandwidth, resolution and frame-rate capability, supporting 4K resolution at 60 frames per second. With 7 HDMI inputs and 2 outputs, you've got plenty of connectivity options for the growing number of high-definition sources available.

Elite Power Meets Efficiency with Class D3 Amplification.

Designed for audiophiles who seek serious sound, the Elite SC-87 is rated at 140 Watts x 9 channels (8 Ohms, 1kHz, 0.08% THD 2 Ch) and delivers a total of 810 Watts multi-channel simultaneous drive. While lesser amplifiers’ output diminishes as channels are added, the SC-87’s Class D3 amps have the power to drive multiple channels simultaneously with no significant drop in per-channel output, recreating the full impact and dynamic range of high-resolution multi-channel audio. With a direct signal path and no EMI filters, feedback loops or current limiting, these amps are true engineering art, and unlike traditional designs, Pioneer Class D3 amps have the durability to handle multiple low-impedance speaker loads where other receivers lose power dramatically. Efficient Class D3 means the Elite SC-87 runs cool and draws just a fraction of the power consumed by conventional amplifier designs. And because it consumes so little power, its cool operation enhances component life and reliability too.

Certified by AIR Studios. A Serious Stamp of Approval.

The Elite SC-87 has been certified at London’s legendary AIR Studios, whose work is respected worldwide for award-winning motion picture soundtracks and peerless digital CD recordings. AIR Studios understands the artist’s craft, and like Pioneer, believes that faithfully reproducing what the artist originally created in the studio is the critical objective of the finest home theater system.

Pro Sound with MCACC Pro.

Now, MCACC® (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration) is taken to a new level of performance with MCACC Pro. Designed by Pioneer for the Atmos-enabled Elite system, MCACC Pro calibrates sound output using a microphone to monitor the sound environment and an equalizer to optimize and precision-tune each speaker to the room. How advanced is MCACC Pro? So advanced that Pioneer engineers have included dual independent subwoofer outputs, each with individual EQ. Tailoring left- and right-channel low frequency response curves lets you achieve optimum subwoofer performance based on specific room placement, creating powerful bass response and seamless integration with your main speaker system. With the push of a button, it’s like having a professional acoustical engineer fine-tune your home theater system.

Precision Playback in Multiple Formats.

Supporting high-resolution digital file formats such as AIFF, WAV, FLAC and Apple Lossless lets audiophiles hear their favorite music as it was originally intended. Apple Lossless decodes compressed data, with no discernible loss in audio quality. MP3, AAC, WMA, WAV and FLAC music files can be streamed from a compatible PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. The Elite SC-87 features 192kHz/32-bit asynchronous USB-DAC for ultra-high quality music playback from a USB connected PC or Mac. Gapless Playback eliminates gaps between consecutive tracks intended to be played continuously, such as classical music or live recordings.

4K Pass-Through.

4K Ultra HD Pass-through is the recognized standard of ultra-high video resolution, boasting 3,840 x 2,160 (24 Hz/25 Hz/30 Hz) pixels or 4,096 x 2,160 (24 Hz) pixels. Every Elite AV receiver can pass through 4K video signals to any compatible display, offering the highest-quality image available — a full four times the current HD standard!

Get the Big Picture with Qdeo® Video Processing

Experience an exceptional, virtually noise-free picture regardless of the source. Qdeo video processing technology by Marvell and a 4K Scaler allows you to upscale any video source for improved picture quality and compatibility with next generation TVs, and makes Blu-ray Disc and DVD content look more detailed and cinematic than ever before.

PQLS Bit-stream.

Pioneer’s special jitter reduction technology makes reproduced sound more realistic by utilizing the master audio clock in the Elite SC-85 for playback instead of the video clock in a compatible Blu-ray Disc player.

ESS-DAC Sabre32 Bit for All-Channel.

Spotify® Connect.

Spotify Connect lets you play and control Spotify on your devices. Choose music on one device and listen on another. At home, hit “Play” on your mobile device and hear high fidelity sound through the Elite SC-87. You can also control the music from your mobile phone.

Windows® 8 Certified.

Don't limit your media experience to your laptop speakers. Windows 8 “Play To” feature makes it easy to stream music stored on your PC to the Elite SC-87, so you can enjoy your entire media library on the biggest speakers in the house.

Flexible Freedom with AirPlay®.

In addition to being DLNA® 1.5 and Windows® 8 certified, the Elite SC-87 features AirPlay to wirelessly stream iTunes music from your PC, Mac®, iPhone®, iPad® or iPod touch® through your home theater system at the touch of a button. And because it supports network audio sources in other zones, you can even send music to another room.

ROKU Ready.

An MHL 2.0 port supports the small but mighty Roku Streaming Stick, which lets you stream more than 1,000 channels of TV, tens of thousands of movies and other programming options for a limitless streaming experience.

Internet Radio Puts the World at Your Fingertips.

Featuring vTuner®, the Elite SC-87 offers a wealth of entertainment options. Not only can you enjoy thousands of Internet radio stations around the world, you can also access Pandora® Internet Radio complete with on-screen album art and music information.

Pioneer’s Ultimate Control App

Pioneer’s free of charge iControlAV5 turns your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or select Android device into a powerful wireless remote that controls everything from volume and input selections to advanced features like EQ adjustments and Internet Radio, and even streams music stored on your phone through the Elite SC-87 using the new “Push Player” feature.

Elevate Your Sound ExperienceTM

The Elite SC-87 is designed to be the heart of today’s most capable multi-channel system. The SC-87, combined with the new Elite Home Theater Speakers, elevates home theater to a new level of performance. Listen once and be forever transformed.

A Perfect Solution for Your Home Theater.

The Elite SC-87 is built to last and offers versatile custom-installation solutions for home entertainment, with Multi-Zone capability that lets you set up three great systems. And because Pioneer is dedicated to custom installation, our relationships with custom-control providers like AMX®, Control4®, Crestron® and other leading brands makes the SC-87 the perfect centerpiece for whole-house systems.

Dolby Atmos System Requirements

Room Requirements
Using the Pioneer Elite Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers you will need the following in order to use the Dolby Atmos-enabled capability of these speakers, the listening room ceiling should have horizontal flat hard surface (for audio reflection) and a height of 8’ to 14’.

Equipment Requirements
In addition to a Dolby Atmos compatible speaker set up, you must have a Dolby Atmos compatible receiver/processor and Dolby Atmos encoded content.

Downloads

SC-89/87/85 FW Oct 10

IMPORTANTPlease carefully read the “CHANGE_HISTORY.txt” file before updating the firmware in order to choose the one that works best with your speaker system.

Specifications and design subject to modification without notice. Pioneer, MCACC, Elite and MCACC logos, and Advanced Sound Retriever, and the corresponding logos are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation and are used by Pioneer & Onkyo U.S.A. Corporation under license.
The impedances indicated are actual values that speakers can present to an amplifier while playing back music. They do not necessarily refer to the nominal rated impedances of speakers you use.
Phase Control is a trademark placed on a product with Pioneer’s Phase Control Technology concept. The technology enables high-grade sound reproduction environment by improving the phase matching for each of the components.
HDMI connection may not allow transmission of copyright protected material, depending on the capability of the signal source.
The terms HDMI and HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, and the HDMI Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC in the United States and other countries.
Dolby, Pro Logic, Dolby Digital, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
DTS, DTS-HD, DTS Neo:X, and the DTS logo and Symbol are registered trademarks of DTS, Inc.
Blu-ray Disc is a registered trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
Windows and the Windows logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.
AirPlay works with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch with iOS 4.3.3 or later, Mac with OS X Mountain Lion, and Mac and PC with iTunes 10.2.2 or later.
“Made for iPod” and “Made for iPhone” mean that an electronic accessory has been designed to connect specifically to iPod or iPhone respectively, and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards. Apple is not responsible for the operation of this device or its compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Please note that the use of this accessory with iPod or iPhone may affect wireless performance. Apple, AirPlay, iPad, iPhone, iPod, iPod nano, iPod touch, iTunes and Mac are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc.
The AirPlay logo is a trademark of Apple Inc.
iOS is a trademark on which Cisco holds the trademark right in the US and certain other countries.
DLNA, the DLNA Logo and DLNA Certified are registered trademarks, service marks, or certification marks of the Digital Living Network Alliance.
HTC, the HTC logo, and HTC Connect are registered trademarks of HTC Corporation.
“x.v.Color” is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
"Qdeo" is a registered trademark of Marvell or its affiliates.
SABRE is a trademark of ESS Technology, Inc.
Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google Inc.
MHL, the MHL Logo, and Mobile High-Definition Link are trademarks of MHL LLC in the United States and other countries.
Aureus is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc.
Pandora, the Pandora logo, and the Pandora trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. and are used with permission.
Spotify and the Spotify logo are trademarks of the Spotify Group, registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Roku and the Roku Ready logo are registered trademarks of Roku, Inc. in the United States and other countries.
vTuner is a registered trademark of Nothing Else Matters Software, Ltd.
Texas Instruments Aureus is a registered trademark of Texas Instruments, Inc.
For details on iPod compatibility, visit http://pioneer.jp/homeav/support/ios/na/